Ex-sheriff in jail sex scandal dies

MONTAGUE, Texas (AP) - A former North Texas sheriff accused in a sex scandal at a jail has died - apparently of natural causes.

Montague County authorities say someone at Bill Keating's house called for an ambulance Thursday night, saying he wasn't breathing. He died en route or shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Chief Deputy J.T. Mitchell says an autopsy has been ordered, but it appears Keating died of natural causes.

Keating was indicted in February on charges of having sex with some female inmates while he was sheriff.

Keating also faced up to 10 years in federal prison for coercing a woman to do sexual favors, saying it was the only way she would avoid being jailed on drug charges. He had pleaded guilty to a federal charge and was to be sentenced in June.

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Smollett reported being beaten up by two men who shouted racist and anti-gay slurs and threw bleach on him. But his story fell apart when actors Smollett knew from the "Empire" set and the gym told police that Smollett paid them $3,500 to stage the attack.